Comal River Tube Chute, First Time Visitor's Guide, New Braunfels

[@colebierplease8448]

Just witnessed again two days ago a Mom with a toddler flip and what did she do?? GRAB HER KID BY INSTINCT AND PULL THE CHILD UNDER TOO. The kid had a life jacket on but the jacket has ZERO CHANCE with an adult’s weight added. She screamed for help, we fished her and her son out and after alot of coughing and crying they were ok. DO NOT BRING SMALL CHILDREN DOWN THE CHUTE

[@srbaruchi]

Can you go down the Chute without a tube or life jacket? Is it reasonably safe for adult strong swimmers to do so? If tubes are required, is there a place in or near the park to obtain them? Thanks much for your advice and the video.

[@colebierplease8448]

srbaruchi Hi and thanks. Tubes are not required to go down the chute. I go down without a tube every time and it is a blast. Just be ready in case you get caught in the “hole” and get pulled down for a few seconds...hold your breath, don’t panic and you will be fine. But ONLY go down without anything if your are a strong swimmer. PLEASE don’t let small kids or weak swimmers go down without a life vest.

[@colebierplease8448]

srbaruchi And yes, if you want a tube, the tube renters are right across the street.

[@srbaruchi]

@@colebierplease8448 Wow! Muchas gracias for the prompt reply. My adult son and I (both at ease in moving water) plan to go there. Seems like it will be more fun w/o a tube. Can we hang out and swim in the pool the chute empties into? Or is there a place downriver with some good depth to play in the water? Any other locations in or near New Braunfels (with clear, deep water) you recommend? We plan to check out the spring and San Marcos River on the Texas State campus.

[@colebierplease8448]

srbaruchi Hi again, no problem. If you want to hang out in the water below the chute that is no problem. If you want to go over and over down the chute or hang out on the concrete, you will need a wristband. The best place to hang out downriver is Warnecke Falls which is the 3rd chute on the river. The water just past the chute is shallow. Sewell Park in San Marcos is one of my favorite spots to go.

[@tinbenderbear4631]

Where are you filming @ the 50 second mark of your video?

[@colebierplease8448]

Gordon Stott Hi, That spot is located on the upper Frio River at HEB Foundation Camp about 20 minutes outside of Leakey, Tx.

[@traviswade0]

My girlfriend and I just visited the New Braunfels Tube Chute for the first time, and it was a blast! We posted a video on my channel! 🌊

[@colebierplease8448]

Excellent! I will check it out, be safe

[@fenixa2z936]

Hello Cole other than the chutes, is it safe? If I choose to have my kids skip the chute will they be fine the rest of the way on the river? How deep are the other areas or is it ok? Thanks great video!

[@colebierplease8448]

Hi, thanks for watching, Yes, the only part of the river I would consider dangerous to small children is the main chute. OF COURSE keep an eye on them all the time, but the next two small “chutes” down river are mild in comparison. However, I advise everyone to not drag your feet while going through any of them as there are potholes on the bed that can trap feet. The river will range from 1’ to maybe 10’ in certain deeper channels along the way. Have fun!

[@fenixa2z936]

Colebier Please YOU ARE THE MAN! Thanks!!!

[@joepayne6102]

Joel is the MAN! Can’t say enough what a great guy he is. I lost my wedding ring swimming in the Comal a few weeks ago and he asked if he could help find it. Well a few weeks later with his persistence he found it!!! Shipped it back to me. Pretty amazing!! I wish nothing but the best for this guy.

[@colebierplease8448]

Joe Payne Glad to help! Be well

[@texaseregistered3463]

thanks for the info

[@slatehill1093]

Get some Joel

[@hazzeleyes23]

I wish I had seen your video before going down the chute! Last summer I flipped off my tube after slamming into the wave it creates at the end of the chute. My tube had a net and I was stuck under water what seemed like an eternity. Once I was able to push the tube off, the current keep me down but quickly shoved me to the wall. Lifeguards jumped in but I had already grabbed on to the bar by the wall. So yes, be careful! Respect the chute! This was my first time out there. Still debating about going back after this experience.

[@colebierplease8448]

Hey Erika You will be fine because now you know and have experience with it. Don’t let one time keep you from fun!

[@hazzeleyes23]

Colebier Please You’re right! My love of swimming will eventually get me out there again.

[@mel2865]

Wow! I'm so happy I came across your video. I'm not a strong swimmer, honestly I panic if I can't feel the floor. I didn't grow up around water but lately, I've been having a crave to go tubing. I want to experience all the fun I've heard. Do people wear life jackets? Is it deep? I wish you can go with me lol Thank you for your tips and great advice. I don't know if I'll ever be courageous to try it. I'm from San Antonio, it's not a far drive.

[@colebierplease8448]

Hi Mel, At the bottom of the chute it gets about 8-10 feet deep. At the wall is about 6 feet but only about 5 feet when on the concrete bags. Some people do wear life jackets and some do not. If you are not comfortable in rushing water, then by all means, wear a life jacket. Don’t let that stop you from having fun at the chute! Also, try to go when the lifeguards are there. They are very good at what they do. Be safe!

[@jeremybennett4995]

Lost my wallet while tubing the Comal River thank you so much for finding it and returning it to me. You are truly a blessing. Thanks for the videos also, I will definitely be taking another trip knowing what I know now!

[@colebierplease8448]

Jeremy Bennett Glad to help!

[@PaulaMurillogimnasia]

Hi awesome video , i have 2 questions 1 is this only open during summer ?? O even after summer u can get in the river ? 2 and is it safe for 2 teenagers to go alone (around 14 yo)? Im asking beacause my daughter wants to go whith her friend and wants me to stay out of the river

[@colebierplease8448]

Pilli 10 Hi, The river and chute are open all year around and yes you can float the chute all year as well. In fact, after September, the chute is free BUT there are no lifeguards either. If they are strong swimmers then I would think they should be ok. Especially if the lifeguards are on duty. Its small kids that get into the most trouble.

[@BikiniTime]

Appreciate the info!

[@colebierplease8448]

You bet! Be safe

[@BikiniTime]

@@colebierplease8448 was looking on to go and this video was super helpful!

[@nicholeyoung4626]

Thank you so much for finding both my daughters phones and getting them safely to the girls! That was amazingly nice! You are god sent

[@colebierplease8448]

No problem, glad to help out Be safe

[@clintwilson6380]

Only jagoffs tube with phones.

[@RizzaAltamera]

Fun fun been there

[@Scout8148]

This is a awesome video just wished i would of watched it sooner, me my wife and our 13 years old daughter went tubing down the Comal River to the chute and my daughter almost drowned. her tubed flipped and she went under (no life vest on which was a real bad mistake)..luckily by the grace of god i threw her a life vest i had with me on a back pack and she caught it ( all those days of playing catch with her paid off ) she floated to the side and we got out and left ... i threw the tubes away and swore I'll never let my kids get in any river without a life vest again !!! Thank you for the video even though I watched it after our incident , it still decompressed me watching it knowing the river got shallow an she probably would of been ok anyways even without the vest ... but it should be mandatory for "Out of Towners" to at least have them with there tubes....BTW we are from NY, way Out of Town .... but I will remember this river for ever... lol , thanks again !!

[@colebierplease8448]

Hey Dallas, thanks for the kind words. I have seen so many small kids get held under by the "hole" and panick, I felt like I needed to try to get the word out somehow. My sons grew up in this river and are both lifeguards at the chute and I didn't let them go down the chute without a vest until they were 10.

[@colebierplease8448]

Panic...not even sure how the K got there, lol

[@cocoslittlethings]

Very thoroughly explained! Thank you!

[@IMVR-d6t]

Thank you so much for finding my friends drivers license and mailing it to her! You saved the day! I saw you swimming around under my tube too that day haha, The River Guardian

[@colebierplease8448]

You are very welcome and glad I could help. I try not to swim too close to tubers but the river gets crowded many times. Be well.

[@IMVR-d6t]

It was very crowded that day! You never touched me, you're an excellent swimmer! Just really cool that I saw you and then found you here through such thoughtful circumstances! So do you think it's safer to go through the tube shoot in singles or with tubes tied together?

[@colebierplease8448]

As far as safety goes, I don't think it makes a difference if you are tied together or not when going down the chute, just remember, if you flip just hold your breath and go with the current.

[@Skyrie87]

I’m so thankful that I came across your video and watched it on our way to the river. I did the chute and fell out of my tube at the end of it. It was scary but I didn’t panic and thanks to you I knew that I could stand up once I reached the wall. I don’t consider myself to be a weak swimmer but I will wear a life jacket if I ever do it again. Thank you!!

[@colebierplease8448]

WOW! Thank you so much for the kind words. I’m very happy to hear that my video helped you out. Be well.

[@robertpugno6704]

First I want to say I really liked your video, very informative but I have a question. I was there in New Braunfels about 10 years ago and went down the Guadalupe and threw a pair of Chutes that were Nature Made, carved out of stone by the river. Never saw the chutes in this video. Did these get made since then replacing the natural chutes or is there more than one set of Chutes? Considering another trip to enjoy the area which I really liked and just want to know if I missed something the last time I was there.

[@colebierplease8448]

Hi Robert The “chutes” you are talking about are indeed on the Guadelupe River a few hundred yards up-river from 2nd Crossing. And yes, they are natural rock chutes. The chute in this video is The Tube Chute on the Comal River, downtown New Braunfels. Come on back and enjoy!

[@stephaniedolan352]

This guy right here is AMAZING!!!! Thank you for Finding my ID while diving the Comal! Thank You So Much you have no idea how much trouble this saved me!!!!!!

[@colebierplease8448]

Hey there! Glad to help out and thanks for the kind words. Be safe.

[@bigsamheardpodcast]

thank you for returning what i lost.. my name is steve monreal. you are a great person. next time i go there i will look for you. thanks again

[@colebierplease8448]

No problem Be well

[@treymendez4826]

Sweet thanks again brother

[@AngelMartinez-oe8fg]

Me and my family are gonna have our first visit to the river , really excited about it! Can I fish on the river while tubing?

[@colebierplease8448]

Angel Martinez Hi there, Fishing is discouraged during times when the river is being used by other toobers, divers and swimmers because of the obvious chance of hooking people. The best luck with fishing I have had has been in the areas away from all of the commotion anyways or very early in the morning before the river gets busy. Thanks for watching

[@AngelMartinez-oe8fg]

So I took my little family to float the river , we absolutely loved it,, didn’t get to fish witch is ok,, but we will be back again!!!

[@colebierplease8448]

Angel Martinez Sounds good! Be safe

[@NayveeMan]

Thanks man! Were new to the area and this video helped alot. We figured out one way on the guadalupe river using our own vehicles and tubes. Still haven't found the free method for the guadalupe. I have a question though about floating further on. If we have our own vehicles (two) and tubes, where would we get out of the comal river, and does it cost? You mentioned camp warnecke estates. Is that the place to get out of the river or is there a better further spot? My wife and i are off together during week occasionally and just want to go out for the cheapest, If not free, method.

[@colebierplease8448]

Hi and thanks! The best way to float free on the Comal is to go early on a weekday and park along San Antonio Street ( street with big bridge leading to courthouse) and then walk across the bridge, take a left across the park past the tennis courts and put in at the "Steps". Float the Chute, Stinky Falls and then eventually Warnecke Falls. As soon as you are past Warnecke Falls, look right and you will see some concrete with wood/roof tin bulkheads. Exit here at the Boy Scouts and walk back to San Antonio Bridge and do it again. (Appx. 1 hour float) Warnecke Estates, The Other Place, Sch. bahn and others are all private property. The Boy Scouts is a public exit. Sometimes you can find parking before the bridge along the park but most of the time you will have to drive across and park on the downtown side and then walk back across.

[@frankvielma4102]

Colebier Please I've been looking at google maps and trying to find the exit, but I can't find the boy scouts. Is it before comal haus? thanks

[@colebierplease8448]

A man drowned in the chute last Friday…if you are not a STRONG swimmer, PLEASE WEAR A LIFEVEST The lifeguards have been jumping in for small children multiple times a day… PLEASE DO NOT TAKE SMALL CHILDREN DOWN THE CHUTE

[@murphythadog]

Thanks for this, I wish I had watched this before going down the chute for the first time. This is a great video on how to handle yourself around the chute. It should be mandatory to watch before going down the chute for the first time. It might be helpful to have some videos of people doing the wrong things. We'll probably put life jackets on everyone just to be safe next time.

[@colebierplease8448]

murphythadog Thanks for watching. This July 4th weekend was a madhouse down there as usual. Be safe and for sure use a PFD if anyone is not a very strong swimmer.

[@murphythadog]

@@colebierplease8448 we went in around 11am, i thought i was a strong swimmer until my tube flipped over, got sucked under for what felt like a long time, until I watched your video, so in reality it was probably only 5 seconds. The flow was pretty strong too. I ended coughing out the water the third time i came up and managed to collect myself and find the rest of the family made it through but that water is no joke.

[@dreamweaver1603]

Every time I’ve gone down the Chute my tube has flipped and I got sucked under the water. My husband never flips. More than half the people I’ve gone down with, whether man, woman, or child, manages not to flip their tubes. What the heck am I doing wrong? I never understood that, but I don’t panic and end up where I need to be. It’s just not my favorite thing. And the last time I went there was a huge bottleneck of people waiting to go through the falls he talked about. It would be nice for you to show a video of what that Chute is like when it’s a nice summer weekend when it’s really crowded.

[@chivas9110]

@@dreamweaver1603 From what I’ve heard, you have to kind of sink your bottom into the tube so that you’re not “top-heavy” when exiting and therefore lowering your chance of flipping over. I’ve gone 3 times and haven’t flipped over once. Went to the San Marcos river this past weekend and flipped over for the first time on the rapids there. Definitely scary, but taking a deep breath before hand and keeping your composure while underwater are lifesavers (literally). Only downside was I lost my glasses 😅

[@dreamweaver1603]

@@chivas9110 thanks for the tip. I may try that next time. I’ve never been to the San Marcos River. Is it nice?

[@Br00klynzoo]

OMG!!! We are not ready!!!

[@colebierplease8448]

Lol, Sure your are! Just protect the little guys with life jackets and don’t fight the current...

[@mikemay1200]

Thanks for this! I appreciate it.

[@colebierplease8448]

Thanks for watching When you see me at the chute say what’s up! Be safe

[@frankvielma4102]

Awesome video man... I'm planning my first trip out to the comal river and am wondering about parking... on the map there seems to be parking in Prince solms park... is it free and how early does it fill up? We're bringing our own tubes. Thanks

[@colebierplease8448]

Hey Frank, thanks for the comment. Parking in Prince Solms is paid parking and will be packed by about noon and even earlier on weekends. There is free parking on San Antonio Street before and after the bridge all the way up to the NAPA store. Free parking is disappearing quickly in NB unfortunately.

[@frankvielma4102]

Colebier Please thank you

[@colebierplease8448]

Hey again Frank The Old Boy Scout building is on the right bank about 100 yards after Warnecke Falls, which is the 3rd "chute" on the river. The first is THE Toob Chute and then the small dam known as "Stinky Falls" is immediately after that. You float under the bridge and on still water for a while along Sch. Bahn and then you come to another dam with a chute called Warnecke Falls. After this set of rapids, start looking right and there will be a concrete sidewalk with wood/corrugated tin bulkheads...this is the Boy Scouts. If you float under Garden St Bridge, you have gone too far. You will walk up and be at the corner of S Market and E Coll Streets.

[@frankvielma4102]

thank you again... awesome info

[@wilblitz44]

Shoot. Ive swam my whole lifw and have been down the shoot before, and this year a fluke, my tube flipped when it hit the wall

[@colebierplease8448]

Yep My sons are both lifeguards at the chute. My younger son made a serious save of a toddler in the chute just a couple of days ago. The mother was even warned above the chute to walk the child around, but of course she knew better. The child flipped and my son jumped in from the stand and made the save.

[@wilblitz44]

It may have been your son that threw the black ring down to me. I my knee cracked against the wall somehow and I have a huge bruise. Lol. I made the mistake of trying to fight the current and swim straight up. Hard to do when it wants to pull you down. I didnt know about the cement bags. My eyes were focused up. Lol

[@colebierplease8448]

Maybe so! Glad you are ok.

[@jessicak4223]

Lots of good info!

[@colebierplease8448]

Thanks for watching The Chute is running very rough right now because of all of the rain in the spring. Unfortunately, a man drowned in the chute last Friday. I think many people simply are not aware how powerful it is…

[@davejunior769]

When I was a kid they called it stinky falls, minority’s weren’t allowed but if you went up that far on the river you could hang with the locals and burn one. They taught me how to crawl under the waterfalls there and a huge air pocket was under there, and you best not fall in, this was early-mid 70s

[@colebierplease8448]

It’s still called Stinky Falls

[@mekaela.farris]

Hello sir! Planning to go tubing tomorrow with my husband. Do you know if theres cabanas or any picnic tables with shades that we can put our food at? I’m not a good swimmer so preferred a shallow tubing area.

[@colebierplease8448]

Hi The only shade shelters at the chute are at The Float In, a bar/river hangout on the chute. There are shade trees on the city side of the chute and all along the river in the park. It’s going to be very crowded and nuts this weekend...be ready...

[@philobeddoe7684]

Good information I suppose, on my third attempt watching having to constantly chase an audible volume level.

[@colebierplease8448]

Some shots have the waterproof case on the go-pro and others don’t Be safe and be well

[@CUdetoom]

Colebier Please, could you recommend a hotel/motel for a family reunion of 50 to 80 people ages 8-80 neal this area ( June 2019)

[@colebierplease8448]

Hi, Wow, that is alot of family! It all depends on your price range. The more expensive rooms would be in Gruene at the resorts around Gruene Mansion Inn or downtown NB at The Faust Hotel. All along I35 there are several major chain hotels for cheaper alternatives but just know, In June in New Braunfels, there is really no such thing as a cheap room it seems.

[@treymendez4826]

Hey Colebier, great videos. Just wanted to ask you if there is any parking at horseshoe falls to do wade fishing or is it all private property? Thanks again for the knowledge.

[@colebierplease8448]

Hey Trey, Thanks for watching. Horse Shoe Falls is surrounded by private property and a neighborhood park for the residents. The only way to get there without trespassing is to put in at the spillway and float down. Be well

[@treymendez4826]

Thanks a lot for the info buddy thinking about hitting it up this weekend on my kayak.Heard there are huge stripers around the horse fall area .

[@colebierplease8448]

trey mendez Yes there are for sure. The trout in the video are even bigger than they look on film. Every time I dive there I can’t believe how big they are and how close they let me get.

[@hafsakarsaz14]

How deep is the river and the chute along with the end of the chute where you come out?

[@colebierplease8448]

Hey there Getting in at the "steps" it is about 4 feet but quickly gets deeper. Above the chute there are spots about 15-18 feet deep. Below the chute at the wall is about 6 feet and then it quickly gets more shallow before Stinky Falls. After that it ranges from 2 feet to 15 feet in certain spots with the final takeout being about 8 feet deep, but there are very obvious steps down to the water that make it easier to get out. Thanks for watching.

[@cwolffbrandt]

Right on!!! So good to meet you and thanks for helping us and returning our river bottom camera!! 😂 great videos! Thanks for keeping everyone safe and informed! I'm sharing this. You rock!

[@colebierplease8448]

Thanks so much! And it was my pleasure.